Bobbi-Jean Batchelor

Hometown: Oliver, BC

What have you enjoyed the most about your MD Undergraduate experience?
Experiencing new places! I was born and raised in the Okanagan and must admit I was a bit of a homebody. My brother did some of his training in Northern BC and highly recommended the NMP. I was nervous to leave familiar surroundings, but I'm so glad I took a chance! UBC has granted us all the opportunity to experience medicine in different places, and I highly recommend every student try and take advantage of this. Check out rural locations, new provinces or use your elective time to visit somewhere you've always wanted to go! You might be surprised with where you thought you would want to set up practice, and where you will after traveling!  I have literally been from coast to coast doing electives and even to other countries! These experiences have been rewarding, and helpful in giving me ideas for my future practice.

What has surprised or challenged you in medical school?
Medicine has been full of challenges. I remember in first year quivering over the prospect of doing the 4th year OSCEs, or wondering how I would ever transition from second to third year. To get past these hurdles I learned to always take a second to look at the year ahead of my own. If they could do it, so could we, and we would and we did!

What advice would you offer to upcoming students in the UBC MD program?
Remember to always take care of yourself. Use your first and second year to establish what you need to be successful and then practice taking time for you. You'll need these skills throughout your career and learning them early will help you stay strong through hard times!

What's next for you?
I have been accepted in to Obstetrics & Gynecology at the University of Saskatchewan, and will complete my five years in Saskatoon. I never thought I would leave B.C., but I fell in love with the prairies during my fourth year electives and am very happy with my choice. My husband and I, and our 2 dogs, are excited for a new adventure.

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Ryan LeBlanc

Hometown: Quesnel, BC

What have you enjoyed the most about your MD Undergraduate experience?
The NMP offers several advantages not found at other distributed sites. There are few other learners and so you are often working closely with the attending physician, and not uncommonly in a one-on-one capacity. The most enjoyable aspect of my medical school experience has been the opportunity to work with and learn from these physicians in such close proximity. The attending physicians here almost universally show a love of teaching and they make helping you learn and grow as a physician a priority.

What has surprised or challenged you in medical school?
I had always expected medical school to be a competitive environment. I was shocked when I realized how much camaraderie and teamwork happens between peers. I certainly could not have gotten where I am today without the help and support of my peers, and similarly some of my more rewarding moments have been helping out my fellow students. It really is an environment of collegiality where teamwork thrives.

What advice would you offer to upcoming students in the UBC MD program?
There are a tremendous amount of exceptional role models and mentors available at every site and within every medical field. Seek out these individuals early on in your training as a mentor is an exceptionally valuable thing in medical training. I've been lucky to have several mentors who have helped foster my interest and love of Internal Medicine. They are an absolute wealth of knowledge and are almost universally happy to share it with you - regardless of where your ultimate interests lie.

What's next for you?
I've been very thankful to have matched to an Internal Medicine residency in Victoria, BC. Following my core internal medicine training I hope to complete a sub-specialty in Infectious Diseases and eventually work in a smaller community with a mix of general internal medicine and infectious diseases. I look forward to incorporating a large amount of teaching and mentoring in my practice as I know how valuable it was to me as a medical student.

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Michiko Maruyama

Hometown: Lethbridge, AB

What have you enjoyed the most about your MD Undergraduate experience?
The people, the place and learning all about medicine! Prince George is a beautiful city filled with such warm and welcoming people and the community full heartedly supports the medical program. I greatly enjoyed living in Northern B.C. and if you have not yet visited Prince George, it is a must! Picture perfect lakes, an endless forest, hiking, skiing, and all the amenities of a big city. As a medical student, there were many research and volunteering opportunities. I enjoyed every step of my MD undergraduate experience and I am so grateful to everyone – faculty, staff and all the patients – who has participated in my medical education. Thank you!

What has surprised or challenged you in medical school?
Everyday is filled with surprises and challenges, and that’s what I love about medicine. Prior to starting medical school, I studied industrial design and mechanical engineering. As an industrial designer, I found my niche in toy design and children’s furniture. Needless to say, my background in toy design did not prepare me for medical school. My first year was very challenging and the transitional was difficult; however, the UBC faculty was very supportive. At the start of medical school, I was worried that I would lose my creativity and artistic side. I was afraid that there would be no time for art or, even worse, that I would lose my desire to paint. But, to my surprise, the opposite happened, I became more creative. Everything that I learned in class and in clinic inspired me to pick up a paint brush and paint. Throughout medical school, I doodled, sketched and painted. Yes, medical school is busy, but I was able to incorporate art into my daily learning routine and after four years, I have hundreds of illustrations that capture my journey through medical school (www.artoflearning.ca).

What advice would you offer to upcoming students in the UBC MD program?
Take care of yourself. Medical school is filled with surprises and challenges and one challenge we are often not prepared for is becoming a patient ourselves. Take care of yourself, both physically and mentally. Eat a healthy diet, exercise, sing, dance, paint, write and reflect!

What's next for you?
Cardiac Surgery at the University of Alberta and working towards my goal of integrating art, design and medicine.